Distance over Time - New Single "Untethered Angel"

[MustActFastToCoverUp]

I liked the little unison part that is only accompanied by drums and bass, and no additional rythm guitar.

[PMA]

Posted this in the other thread on the album release:

Just listened to Untethered Angel and my initial reaction is that it hits all the more typical DT compositional elements.  No real surprises.  Hoping that the Youtube sound is not representative of their actual release.  Sounded more compressed than I would like but I was glad to hear more keys and bass than usual.  It's not a bad song but not in the same league as other material they've released prior.  For example, if Breaking All Illusions is an A+, this would be a B in my opinion.  Of course, their playing is stellar as usual and I did like the split screen video including some quick flybys of their cooking for each other.  I'm still really looking forward to this release and am hoping that this tease is just the tip of the iceberg with true surprises coming.

[Anxiety35]

Video nugget...

At 5:24, you hear 3 crashes but Mangini doesn't play the first one in the video.

Not a complaint, just something I noticed.

Carry on...

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Maybe the song could have used a reprise of the calm intro after the very last chord, and just fade away, or end like the intro.

That would've been cool, a Beyond This Life-esque outro. I can't help but to feel that it ends just like Moment of Betrayal. I don't mind it, tho. This song structure I think makes way more sense in a live setting.

[Mladen]

I'm enjoying the single quite a bit. It's not particularly pushing the envelope, but there are some quirky bits thrown in in order not to make this a typical modern DT single. The section from 2:16 up to 2:51 is brilliant. I enjoy the solos as well, especially the unison. The chorus is very solid, as well as the outro.

[Adami]

That is the perfect video for DT. Just them being them doing their thing, not trying to look all cool and tough or anything. Love it.


Song is still meh though. Not bad. Not great. Mostly forgettable with some cool moments.

[cramx3]

That is the perfect video for DT. Just them being them doing their thing, not trying to look all cool and tough or anything. Love it.

Totally agree, I love the simplicity of it plus you get to watch the guys do what they do best.  But I also love how it's such a trend for cover bands to make youtube videos with the multiple cameras so in a way this is like the professionals doing it.  Redemption did it for a music video too and I really love it as someone who loves watching bands perform. 

[Thematt202]

After the grandeur of The Astonishing, I knew that this would be a more straightforward DT album, but holy shit the single is so underwhelming.  It's just "metal DT" by numbers with no sign of the melody and compositional magic that they're so good at.  Listen to Dystopian Overture/TGoM then listen to this and there's just no comparison. 

[cramx3]

Listen to Dystopian Overture/TGoM then listen to this and there's just no comparison.

Seems like what they are going after though, although I'd imagine there's more of what you are looking for on the album since DT's singles are all fairly like this, straightforward DT.  I do think there is melody in this song though.

[RodrigoAltaf]

[bosk1]

Yeah, there is PLENTY of melody in this song.  I do agree that there is "no comparison" between Dystopian Overture/TGoM and Untethered Angel.  But that is because they are such completely different types of songs as to make comparisons kind of pointless.

EDIT:  Oh, hi Mr. Petrucci. 

[RodrigoAltaf]

Love the heavy riff after the chorus!!! I don't know why, but I enjoyed the song much more after watching the video. sonically, it still bothers me that it's so compressed, but this is going to sound amazing live.

[wolfking]

I thought after one listen the song was pretty decent.  James' vocals are very bizarre, but only in the verses, the chorus is fine IMO.  Really sounds like ITNOG/CM/TDEN kind of feel which I dig.  It's DT sounding like DT though, but promising start already over TA.

[RodrigoAltaf]

I thought after one listen the song was pretty decent.  James' vocals are very bizarre, but only in the verses, the chorus is fine IMO.  Really sounds like ITNOG/CM/TDEN kind of feel which I dig.  It's DT sounding like DT though, but promising start already over TA.

Bizarre indeed. Funny how thy said so many times that the new album was organic, but it seems kind of overproduced, at least in the vocals department. On the positive side, Mangini sounds MUCH better than before, and we can hear Myung's bass after such a long time!

[The Silent Cody]

Love the heavy riff after the chorus!!! I don't know why, but I enjoyed the song much more after watching the video. sonically, it still bothers me that it's so compressed, but this is going to sound amazing live.

This, I have the same feel about liking it much after watching the video. I won't complain about the sound, it's ok for me. Bassline in chorus is simple and perfect - it's a great choice not to exactly follow JP, just pump the E string, sometimes less means better!

[mikeyd23]

Yeah, there is PLENTY of melody in this song.

Yeah, no doubt.

Just listened to the song again after some meetings at work and it feels fresh to me. Not just because it's new, but it has a good, exciting energy to it.

[Pax]

I liked the little unison part that is only accompanied by drums and bass, and no additional rythm guitar.

If you're referring to that part before the last chorus, it's not unison

[Mebert78]

I followed the "order" link on the YouTube video and see there's a $150 collector's cd box set available for Distance Over Time.  Wow!  I wish DT would do a t-shirt/cd bundle like many other bands do these days though, as I always go for those bundles. 

Also, anyone know where that photo was taken of DT in front of the river on Blabbermouth?  Looks like Watkins Glen State Park or Letchwork State Park in upstate New York, possibly.  Just curious.

[goo-goo]

I'm still unsure about the drum sound.
Lacks the necessary dynamics imo.

Why would you expect much dynamics in the drums in a song that's heavy from start to finish? I don't get it.

So it doesn't sound super mechanical?

You copied my avatar!! LOL (I changed it around page 5-6 on this thread )

[MustActFastToCoverUp]

I liked the little unison part that is only accompanied by drums and bass, and no additional rythm guitar.

If you're referring to that part before the last chorus, it's not unison

I just listened to it once, but I guess youre right, it's harmonies, the point is I like the 'live feel' of that section.

[SuperTaco]

As others have mentioned, the lack of guitar overdubs in this song is appreciated, especially during the solo trade-off.

It's weird though... I don't feel even remotely qualified to criticize the work they do, but I hope the rest of the album is better than this... Right now there's a lack of any sort of emotional connection. Gonna stay out of the picture until I can buy the whole album.

[mike099]

Now this thread has really 'poked the bear'

[Thematt202]

Right now there's a lack of any sort of emotional connection.

Yes!  I think this is what I was trying to say above.  There's melody, for sure, but not the special kind of melody that only DT can write.

[YtseJam]

Please increase the bass presence!

[noxon]

Uhm. I think there's enough bass in the mix as it is

[As I Am]

Sorry, but to my ears that was THE MOST UNINSPIRED song DT has ever recorded. Hopefully it will sound better in the context of the new album, but UA is a big FAIL for me! 
PS JLB sounds horrible. Not his voice but the way his sound is coming across.

[T-ski]

excuse my naivety, but is there a purpose to the intro? is it repeated anywhere?

seems it was just thrown in there to be an intro.

[genome]

One thing that puzzles me about new album releases is that prog metalheads seem to spend half the time talking about the mix rather than the actual song.

Do fans of other genres do this? Do dubstep fans argue that Skrillex's bass doesn't wub enough in the 100hz region?

[erwinrafael]

MM's posts:

SAME KIT AS ADTOE except the 24" BD. Cymbals are up high for isolation and because it is fun for me to do different things.

To answer many KIT questions from many sites: ADToE used the 5.5" depth 20Ply Reference Snare. Self titled used the same 6.5" depth D.O.T. snare but tuned very low. Astonishing used it too but tuned a bit higher. D.O.T. also uses it, but tuned at its highest. So 3 of 4 albums are with this snare: same as Breaking the 4th Wall. The D.O.T. toms are the same as ADToE while the kick is the first 24" kick. It is a Reference Series. The Self Titled and Luna Park toms & kicks are the same. The Astonishing & 4th Wall entire kits are the same.

[Polarbear]

This song could end up being a grower!

I've listened to it a few times now, I got better feelings for it already. I like the second verse, probably my favorite part of the song.

[goo-goo]

I'm loving this song. It's got the right hooks and enough "Dream Theaterisms" with not overdoing it. That JP riff at the 2:00 min, I just can't get it out of my head. I liked the effects on James' voice. Suits the song very well imo. Finally, a good drum mix, although keys seem to be a bit low. Other than that, I would say bring it!! 

[YtseJam]

Uhm. I think there's enough bass in the mix as it is

Umm, no

[bosk1]

Cymbals are up high for isolation and because it is fun for me to do different things.

Ah, interesting.  That makes sense.  Although I will say (and this is just an observation, and not in any way a jab at Mangini) that Mike Portnoy was and is a master at miking his entire kit and getting every piece to cut through the mix quite well. 

[genome]

Case in point ^

[danidogma]

I love Dream Theater but I don't understand what they meant when they said that the sound would be more organic...the drums are a little better than The Astonishing, but they still sound a little "automatic".
As for the guitar tone, I hope it's for Youtube, but in my humble opinion, in the cover of Xanadu (Rush), it sounds like a thousand times better, more present, more crunchy and definite.
The voice is buried in effects, I'm more of a fan of more direct sounds, but I understand that it will be the finish they wanted to give to the song.
I like the song but it is clearly below the three previous singles. The vocal melodies aren't what I just got, but James sings it quite well.